Food bank sustains Anaheim man who fell on hard times

Jan. 13, 2012

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Marc Johnson, right, visits the First Lutheran Church food pantry while he's getting back on his feet after losing his job in early 2010. Johnson, shown here with unidentified friends, said he plans to volunteer at the nonprofit. COURTESY OF MARC JOHNSON

Marc Johnson, right, visits the First Lutheran Church food pantry while he's getting back on his feet after losing his job in early 2010. Johnson, shown here with unidentified friends, said he plans to volunteer at the nonprofit. COURTESY OF MARC JOHNSON

2011 Season of Caring

The 2011 Season of Caring campaign recipients are the following Orange County charities:

A victim of the economic crash, Marc Johnson went from having a successful sales job in the furniture industry and living in a four-bedroom home to living in a warehouse and unable to pay for food.

"This can happen to anyone," Johnson said. "I went to college; I worked all my life and it happened to me."

Johnson, 41, was laid off in early 2010 because the economy slowed and his industry suffered. He lived off unemployment for a while but was having difficulty finding a job.

"When my unemployment ran out, I lost my home," he said. "I have no family here. I didn't have that safety net to fall back on."

Johnson lived in a warehouse in Fullerton until a friend invited him to move in to the one-bedroom apartment he shared with his family.

"My friend kind of saved me," he said.

During this time, Johnson was introduced to the pantry at First Lutheran Church in Fullerton. Johnson said he suffers from diabetes and the pantry catered to his dietary needs.

The Second Harvest Food Bank runs a program that allows the needy to shop for groceries including meats, bread, dairy, desserts, and fruits and vegetables. On Tuesday nights, the church also hosts a hot meal for the needy.

Second Harvest Food Bank is one of eight local charities benefitting from the Register's Season of Caring campaign. All proceeds raised will go to the organizations.

Johnson has now found a new sales job and is rebuilding his life. He has an apartment in Anaheim but is still not financially stable.

"Almost all of my money right now goes to pay my bills, but that will change soon," he said.

As he waits in line for his food, he said he is surrounded by other families and individuals who are struggling like he is.

"More and more people show up every week," he said. "The volunteers who work here do it out of the goodness of their hearts."

Johnson said he admits that his experience has humbled him. He remembers once making the assumption that people who needed this kind of help couldn't be like him – educated, hardworking and once-successful.

"I changed my mind once I started seeing these people," he said. "They're families. They're people just like me who have fallen on hard times."

Johnson said he has been inspired by the volunteers at the pantry at First Lutheran Church and he hopes to one day repay them for their kindness.

"I respect the volunteers a lot," he said. "Once I get back on my feet I'll be going down there and helping just like they do."

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